THE STORY OF THE BACTERIA. 73 



long time without the slightest disturbance of 

 the general health, and, furthermore, as the 

 germs in greater or less number are widely 

 distributed in densely inhabited regions, it is 

 usually quite impossible to say in any particular 

 case what the source of the infection was. 



Cattle, in this as in many other countries, 

 are very frequently the victims of tuberculosis, 

 which is caused by the same germ as is the 

 disease in man. As the living tubercle bacilli 

 may be contained in the milk from diseased 

 cows, and in the flesh of affected cattle, it 

 appears that here is an important source of 

 danger. 



It is almost inconceivable that any man not 

 wholly given over to the spirit of the Devil 

 should be capable of sending into the market 

 meat from tubercular cattle, if he is aware of 

 it. Yet there is reason for believing that a 

 very considerable amount of such diseased 

 meat is actually sent into our large towns 

 every year, with the full knowledge of some 

 of the unscrupulous dealers, and probably 

 consumed, usually by the poorer and more 

 ignorant classes. Thorough cooking of such 



